Skein-holder



(N0 Model.)

1,. 0. SMITH. SKEIN HOLDBR.

Patented July 7, 1896.

' INVENTOR Leazzarddmith.

WITNESSES:

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LEONARD 0. SMITH, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

SKElN-HOLDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters latent No. 563,513, dated July 7, 1896.

Application filed February 19, 1895. Serial No. 538,981. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, LEONARD 0. SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, county of Philadelphia, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Device known as a Skein-Holder, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact specification.

My invention relates to improvements in. skein-holding devices for threads,embroidery silks, and the like.

The objects of my invention are as follows: to provide a means for holding a skein of thread in such a manner that the same may be readily exhibited, at the same time preventing the contents from becoming soiled, snarled, or tangled, and which will also facilitate the ready removal of one or more separate lengths of thread without disarranging the remaining contents.

My invention is illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a front elevation of my invention, all the parts being assembled. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of one of the details. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the part shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a front elevation of a'modification of the part shown in Figs. 2 and 3. Fig. 5 is a front elevation of another modification, the lower portion of the envelop being broken away. Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the modification shown in Fig. 5, partly in section. Fig. 7 is a plan view of a modified retainingpiece. Fig. 8 is a front elevation of another modification, the side of the envelop being broken away to show the internal arrangement.

Similar letters refer to similar parts.

A is an envelop of suitable form and open at opposite ends.

B is a link or skein of thread.

D is a retaining-piece.

E E are outwardly-projecting ears formed on the retaining-piece and adapted to extend or project beyond the edges of the envelop when the parts are assembled as shown in Fig. 1.

By preference I provide recesses F F in the side edges of the retaining-piece D for the purpose hereinafter described. In operation the skein B is placed over the retaining-piece,

which is then doubled up, so as to loop around E E are provided at only one end of the retaming-piece D.

In the modification shown in Figs. 5 and 6 flaps E E are provided in place of the projecting ears heretofore described. By bendin g over the upper ends of the retaining-piece D the flaps thus formed will project down over the sides ef the envelop A as shown, thereby preventing the retaining-piece D from being pulled through the envelop. If desirable, the flaps E E may be attached to the sides of the envelop by means of any suitable adhesive substance.

In the modification shown in Fig. 7 the retaining-piece D may be provided with either form of cars or flaps already described, the form illustrated showing ears E E adapted to extend beyond the side edges of the envelop. In this modification the skein of thread passes transversely through said retainingpiece, while in the other instances it passes through a loop in the retaining-piece and from edge to edge.

In the modification shown in Fig. 8 the side edges of the retaining-piece D diverge, as shown, and by preference the sides of the envelop A similarly diverge toward the upper end of the envelop, so that the retaining-piece D will abut and be retained at the upper end I of said envelop when the parts are assembled.

In the modification shown in Figs. 9 and 10 the retainingpiece D is doubled, so as to loop around the skein B and the opposite side edges of the doubled-up retaining piece are inclined away from each other, as shown, so that when the parts are assembled the retaining-piece will jam in the upper end of the above referred to, is to afiord sufficient space between the side edges of the retaining-piece and the adjacent inner surface of the envelop to permit the threads to move freely as they are withdrawn.

It will be observed that in all the abovereferred-to cases the doubled retaining-piece occupies substantially the entire width of the space within the end of the envelop and is recessed at F for the purpose of permitting the withdrawal of the separate strands of silk or other thread, and were it not for these recesses the retaining-piece, as described, would be substantially useless, inasmuch as there would not be room for the thickness of the skein of silk in addition to the width of the retaining-piece to be freely held within the envelop.

In operation the lower end of the skein is cut for the purpose of dividing the thread into separate lengths, one or more of which may be independently withdrawn, the retaining-piece at the opposite end of the envelop through which the skein is looped preventing the remaining contents from being disarranged.

It is obvious that the recesses F F are not necessary when that portion of the retainingpiece which projects into the envelop does not occupy substantially the entire internal width of the envelop.

If desirable, only one recess F may be made in place of providing two, one on each side.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A skein-holding device consisting of an envelop adapted to carry a skein of thread; a retaining-piece looped through the said skein and doubled upon itself, the width of said retaining-piece when doubled being shaped to occupy the entire width of the opening in one end of the envelop, the lower or inner end of said doubled retaining-piece being recessed in opposite edges to allow a passage for the thread between the lower edges of the retainin g-piece and the inner sides of the envelop.

2. A skein-holding device consisting of an envelop adapted to carrya skein of thread, a retaining-piece looped through the said skein, and doubled upon itself, recesses at the lower opposite edges of said doubled retainingpiece, the doubled retaining-piece above said recesses occupying the entire width of the openingin one end of the envelop, and means fordetachably holding said retaining-piece in the end of said envelop.

3. A skein-holding device consisting of an envelop open at opposite ends and adapted to carry a skein of thread; a retaining-piece looped through said skein and doubled upon itself, the opposite lower or inner edge of said retaining-piece being recessed to provide a space through which the thread may pass, the doubled retaining-piece above said recessed portion occupying the entire width of the opening in one end of the envelop,' said retaining-piece being provided with ears or flaps at the upper extremity to engage with the outside of the envelop at its open end, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

l. In a skein-holding device, a retainingpiece the opposite side edges of which are recessed at a point intermediate in the length of said retaining-piece which is doubled upon itself at that point, that portion of the retaining-piece adjacent to said recesses being adapted to fill the entire space within one open end of the envelop or holder used therewith, substantially as described.

- 5. A skein-holding device consisting of an envelop adapted to carry a skein of thread, a loose retaining-piece looped through said skein and doubled upon itself and shaped to occupy the opening in one end of the envelop, the lower end of said doubled retaining-piece being recessed in opposite edges to allow a passage for the thread between the lower edges of the retaining-piece and the inner sides of the envelop.

G. A skein-holding device comprising a folded casin g and a bearin g forseparatin g the opposite sides of the skein, the said bearing consisting of a folded piece of material having its bight portion adjacent to the end of the casing narrowed to enter'within the easin g, and its end farther from the casing laterally extended to prevent the bearing from being drawn wholly within the casing, substantially as described.

LEONARD 0. SMITH. lVitnesses:

R. O. MITCHELL, II. M. SKINNER. 

